The work artfully juxtaposes two complex, quasi-symphonic percussion instruments piano and gamelan ensemble, East and West each making fluent-sounding attempts at adopting the accent of the other, with the piano's unusual tuning giving a quirky tinge to its tones, a slight acridity to would-be octaves.

While the larger examples are best peeled (to remove their thick skins) and cooked (to mellow their acridity), the smaller, tender specimens can, like radishes, be served as is with butter and sea salt.

True, we were only in a few neighborhoods and the weather was only chilly and not freezing, but still, I wanted my brown paper bag full of hot chestnuts tasting slightly sweet and nutty with just a hint of acridity where the shells had been blackened on the bottom.